Inflatable insulating liners for shipping containers and method of manufacture

Abstract

An inflatable insulating panel consisting of a plurality of sheetform polyolefin layers, and its manner of fabrication, is provided. An outer peripheral seal forms an inflatable panel, with an intermediate interconnected web of layers formed out of an array of alternating seams of attachment between the outer and intermediate adjacent layers. Upon inflation of the panel, the interconnected web expands to form a plurality of individual baffle chambers.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to thermally insulated shipping container liners, and, more particularly, to container liners that are inflatable. More specifically, the present invention relates to an envelope composed of multiple layers of a polymeric material that, upon inflation, form baffled layers configured as a shipping container liner.2. Description of the Prior ArtIn the transportation and distribution of products, both the product and the package define the "shipping environment". While the corrugated fiberboard boxes, steel drums, wooden crates, and pallets have not changed significantly over the past 80 years, the shipping requirements of the products have changed with each new generation of both product and shipping technology. As a result, packaging materials have improved to meet the demands of the new technology.Refrigerated transportation at one time meant a horse-drawn wagon packed with ice and straw. Super-cooled gase...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

A further object of the present invention is to reduce costs previously associated with the use of EPS. One such cost reduction is achieved as a result of the greater thermal efficiency previously discussed. The enhanced thermal insulation characteristic obtained under the present baffled liner enables extended shipping times without compromising the quality of the thermally-sensitive cargo.

Additional savings is obtained through reduced storage and transport costs. When stored, the present baffled container is in a collapsed, un-inflated state that occupies only 1 / 20.sup.th the space required by the alternative, molded EPS containers. Not only does this volume reduction result in saved warehouse space, the transport of the in-inflated liner to the shipping site is considerably more efficient as a result of its reduced, per unit shipping volume.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a baffled container liner that is virtually leak-proof in terms of container integrity. Constructed from multiple layers into a flat, easily stored envelope, when used, the envelope inflates into a closed-end container preventing liquid leakage from within. During transit, such liquid might originate from the cargo itself, or from the refrigerant, which is frequently ice. Such liquid is unwelcome to cargo air carriers, as it has the potential to be damaging to the airplane structure and cleanup can be quite expensive and time-consuming to accomplish.

Problems solved by technology

Such liquid is unwelcome to cargo air carriers, as it has the potential to be damaging to the airplane structure and cleanup can be quite expensive and time-consuming to accomplish.

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